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[h=2]Gan didn’t reveal no. of medical scholarships to FTs[/h]
January 20th, 2015 |
Author: Editorial
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong
During the Parliament sitting yesterday (19 Jan), Mrs Lina Chiam who is a Non-Constituency MP asked the Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on the followings:
These scholarships and sponsorships include formal training programmes leading to diplomas, degrees, masters and doctorates as well as skills attachment programmes in renowned overseas centres, he said.
“The scholarships and sponsorships cover tuition fees, maintenance expenses, miscellaneous training-related costs and salaries,” he added.
Mr Gan revealed that over the past 5 years, MOH and the public healthcare sector have already awarded more than 1,000 healthcare sponsorships to:
“MOH regularly reviews the scholarships and programmes to ensure that the terms and benefits remain adequate, and the areas of training are aligned with our healthcare needs.”
However, in his official reply, Mr Gan did not disclose the proportion of scholarships and sponsorships given to foreigners.
Evidence of awarding nursing scholarships to foreigners
It appears that the government does go around the world to give healthcare scholarships and sponsorships to foreign students to study in Singapore.
For example, the following advertisement was posted on Anhui Medical College in China last year [Link]:
The scholarship programme offers full scholarships to Chinese students to go to Singapore to study nursing. It said that the purpose is to “strengthen the bilateral friendship” and “expand educational exchanges” between China and Singapore.
It even stated that this programme started way back in 1993 for 21 years now. Anhui Medical College is one of the seven institutions selected to participate in the scholarship programme, it said. Anhui Medical College itself has participated in the programme for the past 6 years and already has 108 of its students studying in Singapore, it further added.
“All public hospitals in Singapore have our students working there,” Anhui Medical College proudly proclaimed.
Furthermore, it said that every year, those Chinese students on scholarships will return home to visit Anhui Medical College so as to meet up with new potential scholars to give them feedback. Last year, such an event was held in October.
It said that 10 students would be selected for the scholarships to study in Nanyang Polytechnic and Ngee Ann Polytechnic for a three-year diploma nursing program.
Other information listed on the advertisement:
What do you think?
During the Parliament sitting yesterday (19 Jan), Mrs Lina Chiam who is a Non-Constituency MP asked the Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on the followings:
To ask the Minister for Health:
(a) what is the current number of educational sponsorships offered to -
(c) whether the training allowances will be further raised and, if so, when.
Mr Gan replied that MOH does provide funding for a range of healthcare scholarships and educational sponsorships to “develop healthcare professionals and leaders”.(a) what is the current number of educational sponsorships offered to -
- nurses
- social workers and
- occupational therapists;
(c) whether the training allowances will be further raised and, if so, when.
These scholarships and sponsorships include formal training programmes leading to diplomas, degrees, masters and doctorates as well as skills attachment programmes in renowned overseas centres, he said.
“The scholarships and sponsorships cover tuition fees, maintenance expenses, miscellaneous training-related costs and salaries,” he added.
Mr Gan revealed that over the past 5 years, MOH and the public healthcare sector have already awarded more than 1,000 healthcare sponsorships to:
- nurses
- medical social workers, and
- occupational therapists
“MOH regularly reviews the scholarships and programmes to ensure that the terms and benefits remain adequate, and the areas of training are aligned with our healthcare needs.”
However, in his official reply, Mr Gan did not disclose the proportion of scholarships and sponsorships given to foreigners.
Evidence of awarding nursing scholarships to foreigners
It appears that the government does go around the world to give healthcare scholarships and sponsorships to foreign students to study in Singapore.
For example, the following advertisement was posted on Anhui Medical College in China last year [Link]:
The scholarship programme offers full scholarships to Chinese students to go to Singapore to study nursing. It said that the purpose is to “strengthen the bilateral friendship” and “expand educational exchanges” between China and Singapore.
It even stated that this programme started way back in 1993 for 21 years now. Anhui Medical College is one of the seven institutions selected to participate in the scholarship programme, it said. Anhui Medical College itself has participated in the programme for the past 6 years and already has 108 of its students studying in Singapore, it further added.
“All public hospitals in Singapore have our students working there,” Anhui Medical College proudly proclaimed.
Furthermore, it said that every year, those Chinese students on scholarships will return home to visit Anhui Medical College so as to meet up with new potential scholars to give them feedback. Last year, such an event was held in October.
It said that 10 students would be selected for the scholarships to study in Nanyang Polytechnic and Ngee Ann Polytechnic for a three-year diploma nursing program.
Other information listed on the advertisement:
- Selecting 10 out of 50 pre-selected candidates
- MOH officials go to China to interview candidates in English
- School will prepare candidates for the English interviews by MOH officials
- Scholars will be given free English language training courses by Singapore government for 7-8 months before entering poly in July.
- Annual living allowance of S$6,600 to $7,800
- resettlement subsidy $200
- Free air ticket back home once a year
- Free tuition and other ancillary fees
- Free lodging at nursing quarters during English language training period
- Housing allowance $300 per month
- Accident insurance
- Bonded 6 years to work at: Alexandra Hospital, IMH, NUH, TTSH, CGH, KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital, National Heart Centre or SGH
- Registered as professional nurse after graduation
- Starting salary $1,500
- Can earn more than $2,000
- Promotion opportunities
- Enjoy same privileges with local nurses to go to US for further degree or post-graduate studies
- OT pay for night shifts
- Can go for more specialized nursing studies
What do you think?
